News

(AP) — A food poisoning outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that at least 22 people have been hospitalized. One person died. No source of the E. coli outbreak has been identified, but officials are focused on slivered onions used on the burgers. McDonald's officials have said that a Calfornia-based grower supplied yellow onions that have been recalled for possible contamination.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts are back on Earth after a space station mission that lasted almost eight months. A SpaceX capsule carrying the crew parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast before dawn Friday. The three Americans and one Russian should have returned from the International Space Station two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by all the problems with Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered followed by more bad weather. The astronauts launched to the space station in March.

OBERLIN — A four parish CO2 (carbon dioxide) Alliance, including Jeff Davis, Allen, Beauregard and Vernon parishes met at Allen Parish Police Jury recently, where the executive committee held an election of officers and heard public comments from state and local leaders, as well as area residents.

LAKE ARTHUR — The annual Halloween-themed Boo on the Avenue event in Lake Arthur draws a huge crowd each year with a variety of fun for people of all ages. The event has been going on since 2010 and features costume contests, haunted house, Chili Cook-Off and Pumpkin Bake-Off, train rides, games, music and trick-or-treating for kids.